Automatic tape winding machine

ABSTRACT

The automatic tape winding machine comprises a plurality of driven winding shafts, a winding-on mechanism and a cross cutting unit for cutting tapes. The winding shafts are mounted on pneumatically pivotal arms in such a way that the packages do not touch one another when the winding shafts are swung in or out. When swung in, some of the winding shafts are initially situated in the vicinity of the winding-on units and are then swung out by completed packages, whilst at the same time the rest of the winding shafts remain stationary in readiness to receive empty winding tubes after the completed packages have been removed.

United States Patent [191 Jores et al;

[ AUTOMATIC TAPE WINDING MACHINE [75] Inventors: Willi Jores, Opladen; Hans Gref,

Cologne; Helmut Lehmann, Leverkusen; Franz Hoffacker, Langenfeld; Hermann Luhrig; Bernhardt Kreit, both of Leverkusen, all of Germany [73] Assignee: AGFA-Gevaert Aktiengesellschaft,

Leverkusen, Germany [22] Filed: Dec. 26, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 318,211

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Dec. 30, 1971 Germany 2165525 [52] US. Cl. 242/56 R, 242/67.l R

[51] Int. Cl. B65h 19/20 [58] Field of Search 242/56 R, 56 A, 56.2, 56.6

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,062,465 11/1962 Hunter 242/56 R Aug. 6, 1974 3,122,335 2/1964 Dusenbery 242/56.2 3,222,004 12/1965 Crowe 242/56.2 X 3,592,403 7/1971 Schmitt 242/56 R 3,746,271 7/1973 Frankel 242/56 R 3,750,973 8/1973 Walters 242/56.2

Primary Examiner-John W. Huckert Assistant Examiner-Edward J. McCarthy Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Connolly and Hutz [57 ABSTRACT The automatic tape winding machine comprises a plurality of driven winding shafts, a winding-on mechanism and a cross cutting unit for cutting tapes. The winding shafts are mounted on pneumatically pivotal I arms in such a way that the packages do not touch one 16 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures 1 AUTOMATIC TAPE WINDING MACHINE This invention relates to an automatic tape winding machine for winding tapes. One known machine of this kind consists of a plurality of driven winding shafts with winding tubes, winding-on mechanisms for winding the tapesonto the tubes, and cross-cutting units for cutting the tapes after the required package diameter has been reached.

In this way, tapes cut for example by roll cutting machines can be automatically wound up to a certain diameter onto cardboard tubes and then cut.

In conventional roll cutting and winding machines, the cut tapes are wound onto two winding shafts arranged horizontally one above the other and fitted with cardboard tubes. The arrangement of these winding shafts is attended by the disadvantage that the time required to set up the shafts is of the same order of magnitude as the time required to cut and wind an approximately 100 m long roll. Another obstacle to automatic operation is that, when wound on, the individual tapes have to be stuck to the cardboard tubes with adhesive strips. In addition, the tapes have to be constantly checked during winding on to ensure that their edges are in line. Finally, the tapes of the completed packages are cut by hand and the packages individually removed from the winding shaft. This also takes a considerable amount of time.

In other known roll cutting and winding machines, the cardboard tubes are automatically fitted, the tapes automatically stuck on with hot glue, and the rolls automatically wound and cut. Unfortunately, these machines are not suitable for sensitive tape material. It is not possible for example in the case of photographic paper to stick the tapes onto the tubes with hot glue.

Another group of roll cutting and winding machines function on the principle of supporting or contact rollers, In this case, the cardboard tubes are taken up by two swing arms in the absence of any spindles and are driven through contact rollers. It will readily be appreciated that this method is also unsuitable for rolling tapes with a sensitive surface. The contact-roller drive would undoubtedly scratch and hence damage the surface of the tape.

The object of the invention is to construct an automatic tape winding machine by which even sensitive tapes such as photographic papers, can be wound at high speeds.

According to the invention this object is achieved as follows: the winding shafts are mounted on pneumatically pivotal arms in such a way that the packages do not touch one another when the winding shafts are swung in or out, and in such a way that when swung in, some of the winding shafts are initially situated in the vicinity of the winding-on units and are then swung out by completed packages, whilst at the same time the rest of the winding shafts are swung out and remain stationary in readiness to receive empty winding tubes after the completed packages have been removed.

The winding-on units advantageously consist of a two-piece hollow cylinder which has a threading slot and contact roller openings. When the winding shafts are swung out, one half of the hollow cylinder is opened out so that the winding shafts can be removed from the winding-on unit.

In another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the winding-on units are preceded in the direction unit.

The advantages afforded by the invention are embodied above all in a considerably increased winding capacity. At the same time, the tapes are carefully treated, damage to them being substantially impossible. Another advantage of the invention is that the machine is not confined to any one format. It is possible to process tapes of any width without any need for the machine to be specially modified for this purpose. In addition the universal design enables the winding unit to be connected up to any conventional roller cutting machine.

One embodiment of the invention is described by way of example in the following with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 diagrammatically illustrates the structure of the machine as a whole.

FIG. 2 shows an enlarged detail in the vicinity-of the winding-on unit.

As shown in FIG. 1, a wide web wound into a large roll 1 is cut by means of a conventional roll cutting machine 2 into a plurality of narrow tapes. These tapes are then delivered in two groups, three of the same size to an automatic tape winding machine 4 which is built up on two winding units 5. The winding unit 5 consists of a pivotal tape drive 6, a cross cutting unit 7 (FIG. 2) of a winding-on unit 8, two winding shafts 9a, 10a and 9b, 10b, onto which winding tubes 11 are fitted, and of the drive elements for the winding shafts and of the tape drive (not shown).

Pivotal arms 12 are mounted on side plates 13 of the machine at such intervals that, when swung in and out, they do not touch one another, even when packages 14 have reached their full diameter. The winding shafts 9a, 10a, and 9b, 10b are driven by electric motors (not shown) which are mounted on the pivotal arms 12. However, the winding shafts can also be driven centrally from outside through friction drives. In this case, the drive is best coupled with the roll cutting machine 2. The pivotal movement of the arms 12 is controlled in known manner by a pneumatic unit.

The winding-on unit 8 ensures that the tapes 3 are wound cleanly onto the winding tubes 11. It consists essentially of a full length hollow cylinder 15 whose length (height) is adapted to the width of the group 3 of tapes and to the length of the winding shafts 9a, 9b and 10a, 10b. A hollow cylinder 15 which is in two parts, one of which can be opened out on hinges 16; is provided and the winding shaft 9, 10 onto which the winding tubes 11 are fitted is accommodated in the hollow cylinder 15. The hollow cylinder also comprises an axially parallel threading slot 17 through which the group 3 of tapes is introduced. In addition, contactroller openings 18 are provided along its outer surface. In these openings, small rubber rollers 19 press resiliently on the winding tube 11. The rubber rollers are arranged at close intervals over the entire length of the hollow cylinder so that tapes of any width can be rolled up. In the vicinity of the threading slot 17 there is a roller 20 which ensures that the tapes are cleanly threaded. For threading, the group of tapes 3 is pushed in to the hollow cylinder 15 by means of the tape drive 6 and the guide roller 20. In the hollow cylinder 15, the

tapes are diverted so that they rotate around the rotating winding tubes 11 and are pushed by the rubber rollers 19 between the winding tubes 11 and the ending length of tape. After a few turns the tapes are then wound firmly onto the winding tubes 11, thus completing the winding on phase. The winding-on unit 8 is then opened by means of a pneumatic mechanism 21 so that the winding shafts with the rolls l4 wound onto them can be swung out.

A cross cutting unit 7 is arranged in front of the threading slot 17 for cutting the tapes after the prescribed package diameter has been reached. Its most important components are a circular blade 22 and a steel support 23 between which the tapes are guided. The circular blade is mounted on a carriage 24 suspended from a guide rail 25. The carriage is driven during cutting by means of a spindle 26.

The tape drive 6 is situated immediately in front of the cross cutting unit 7, consisting essentially of a roller 27 and of a pair of rollers 28, 29 provided with a drive. The tapes are guided through and advanced between the rollers 28, 29. The upper roller 29 is designed to be raised by a pneumatic mechanism 30 when it is desired to switch off the tape feed.

The function of the machine is described in the following with reference to the drawings. First of all, the wide web coming from the offwinding station 1 is cut by the roll cutting machine 2 into a plurality of narrow tapes. These tapes are then divided up into the groups 3 which are delivered to the automatic tape winding machine. The groups 3 of tapes are then threaded by the tape drive into the winding-on units 8 in which the winding shafts 9a, 9b are accommodated. After a few turns the tapes are wound firmly onto the winding tubes 11 which complete the winding-on phase. The windingon units 8 are then opened by pneumatically opening one half of the hollow cylinder 15. The winding shafts 9a, 9b are then swung out and the rolls 14 wound to the final diameter.

ln the meantime, the other two winding shafts a, 10b are swung down to such an extent that the completed packages can be removed and fresh winding tubes 11 fitted on. Before the completed packages 14 are removed, the tapes have to be cut by the cross cutting unit 7.

Accordingly, the machine functions semiautomatically. While tapes are being wound on and then wound to completion on the winding shafts 9a, 9b, the winding shafts 10a, 10b are stationary and being unloaded and reloaded. This semi-automatic operation provides for considerable rationalisation.

What we claim is:

1. An automatic tape winding machine for winding tapes to a required package diameter, comprising a pair of driven winding shafts with winding tubes, a windingon mechanism for starting the winding of the tapes onto the tubes, a cross cutting unit disposed adjacent the winding-on mechanism for cutting the tapes after the required package diameter has been reached, wherein the winding shafts are mounted on pivotal arms of different lengths so that each of them can be alternatively moved from a respective location remote from the winding-on mechanism to engagement within the winding-on mechanism to have the beginning of a tape wound thereon, and back to the remote location to have the required diameter for a tape package wound thereon or an empty tube mounted thereon, the pivotal arms and winding shafts being adapted so that movement of one of the winding shafts from and to engagement within the winding-on mechanism can be affected without it or a package supported thereon contacting any of the other winding shafts or packages supported on any of the other winding shafts when the other shaft of shafts are located in their respective remote locations.

2. An automatic tape winding machine according to claim 1, wherein the winding-on unit consists of a two piece hollow cylinder with a threading slot and contactroller openings, one of the two pieces of the hollow cylinder comprising a hemispherical portion, the hemispherical portion being mounted on a hinge for movement opening and closing the hollow cylinder to permit the winding shafts to be swung in and out of the hollow spaces for initiating the winding in the hollow space and removing the winding shaft to complete the winding to the full package diameter outside of the hollow space or an empty tube mounted thereon.

3. An automatic tape winding machine according to claim 1, wherein the winding on unit is preceded in the direction of tape travel by a cross cutting machine having a guide surface directing the tape into the windingon unit, and the cross cutting machine being constructed and arranged to cut the tape on the guide surface leaving a new end which can be threaded into the winding-on unit for winding the following tape package.

4. An automatic tape winding machine according to claim 1 wherein said winding-on mechanism comprises a substantially cylindrical assembly surrounding a hollow space, the assembly including a short arcuate plate, the short arcuate plate having a short concave surface disposed toward the path of movement of the winding shafts toward the winding-on mechanism, a hemincylindrical concave-surfaced plate having a tip end and a base end abutting the short arcuate plate, the hemicylindrical concave-surfaced plate being mounted upon a rotatable arm for movement contiguous to and away from the concave surface whereby the side of the mechanism in the path of movement of the winding shafts is opened for allowing the winding shafts to be moved in and out of the hollow space within the cylindrical assembly, a tape-feeding table having a discharge end disposed adjacent the cylindrical assembly and under the tip end of the hemicylindrical concavesurfaced plate whereby the leading ends of the tapes are directed into the gap between the tip end and the winding tubes disposed within the hollow space, a wrapping guide element having a smooth end disposed in the space between the short arcuate plate and the table for holding the layers of tapes in contact with the tubes, and the discharge end of the table having a concave surface which forms a substantial continuation of the cylindrical assembly for cooperating with the other elements in the cylindrical assembly in tightly wrapping the end of the tapes around the winding tubes for securing them thereto.

5. An automatic tape winding machine according to claim 4 wherein the wrapping guide element comprises roller means mounted upon a movable arm.

6. An automatic tape winding machine according to claim 5 wherein the roller means are constructed and arranged to press resiliently into contact with the surface of the tapes.

7. An automatic tape winding machine according to claim 4 wherein a guide roller means is mounted in Contact with tapes on the table for feeding the tapes into the gap between the tip end of the hemicylindrical concave-surfaced plate and winding tubes within the assembly.

8. An automatic tape winding machine according to claim 7 wherein the outside edge of the tip end is tapered to allow the guide roller means to closely nest adjacent the end of the table.

9. An automatic tape winding machine according to claim 4 wherein a cutoff device is mounted on the table for movement against the tapes on it whereby lengths of tape are severed after being fully wound upon the tubes.

10. An automatic tape winding maching according to claim 4 wherein the tip portion of the hemicylindrical concave-surfaced plate is spaced a greater distance from the tube than the remaining portion for facilitating the entrance of the ends of the tapes into the gap between the tip and the tubes.

11. An automatic tape winding machine according to claim 10 wherein a disengageable tape drive is mounted at the end of the table remote from the cylindrical assembly for feeding tapes across the table onto the assembly.

12. An automatic tape winding machine according to claim 4 wherein a pneumatic operating linkage having a large operating angle is connected to the arm whereby the hemicylindrical concave-surfaced plate is fully opened away from and moved toward the cylindrical assembly for inserting and removing the winding tubes.

13. An automatic tape winding machine according to claim 4 wherein one of said pivotal arms is substantially longer than the other, the longer arm being constructed and arranged to move its winding shaft in a short are 7 within the assembly from its remote position, and the other shorter pivotal arm being constructed and arranged to move its winding shaft through a larger are within the assembly from its remote position.

14. An automatic tape winding machine according to claim 13 wherein the machine includes a base plate upon which the pivoted elements are mounted, the pivotal arms being spaced from the base plate, and the winding shaft extending from the pivotal arms toward the base plate and having extremeties which are spaced from the base plate to permit their movement within and away from the assembly.

15. An automatic tape winding machine comprising a pair of the combination set forth in claim 14 and wherein the longer and shorter pivotal arms are constructed and arranged to operate in synchronism with each other.

16. An automatic tape winding machine according to claim 1 wherein a double pair of the winding shafts with pivotal arms of different length are provided, and the pivotal arms of the same length in the double pair are constructed and arranged to operate together. 

1. An automatic tape winding machine for winding tapes to a required package diameter, comprising a pair of driven winding shafts with winding tubes, a winding-on mechanism for starting the winding of the tapes onto the tubes, a cross cutting unit disposed adjacent the winding-on mechanism for cutting the tapes after the required package diameter has been reached, wherein the winding shafts are mounted on pivotal arms of different lengths so that each of them can be alternatively moved from a respective location remote from the winding-on mechanism to engagement within the winding-on mechanism to have the beginning of a tape wound thereon, and back to the remote location to have the required diameter for a tape package wound thereon or an empty tube mounted thereon, the pivotal arms and winding shafts being adapted so that movement of one of the winding shafts from and to engagement within the winding-on mechanism can be affected without it or a package supported thereon contacting any of the other winding shafts or packages supported on any of the other winding shafts When the other shaft of shafts are located in their respective remote locations.
 2. An automatic tape winding machine according to claim 1, wherein the winding-on unit consists of a two piece hollow cylinder with a threading slot and contact-roller openings, one of the two pieces of the hollow cylinder comprising a hemispherical portion, the hemispherical portion being mounted on a hinge for movement opening and closing the hollow cylinder to permit the winding shafts to be swung in and out of the hollow spaces for initiating the winding in the hollow space and removing the winding shaft to complete the winding to the full package diameter outside of the hollow space or an empty tube mounted thereon.
 3. An automatic tape winding machine according to claim 1, wherein the winding on unit is preceded in the direction of tape travel by a cross cutting machine having a guide surface directing the tape into the winding-on unit, and the cross cutting machine being constructed and arranged to cut the tape on the guide surface leaving a new end which can be threaded into the winding-on unit for winding the following tape package.
 4. An automatic tape winding machine according to claim 1 wherein said winding-on mechanism comprises a substantially cylindrical assembly surrounding a hollow space, the assembly including a short arcuate plate, the short arcuate plate having a short concave surface disposed toward the path of movement of the winding shafts toward the winding-on mechanism, a hemincylindrical concave-surfaced plate having a tip end and a base end abutting the short arcuate plate, the hemicylindrical concave-surfaced plate being mounted upon a rotatable arm for movement contiguous to and away from the concave surface whereby the side of the mechanism in the path of movement of the winding shafts is opened for allowing the winding shafts to be moved in and out of the hollow space within the cylindrical assembly, a tape-feeding table having a discharge end disposed adjacent the cylindrical assembly and under the tip end of the hemicylindrical concave-surfaced plate whereby the leading ends of the tapes are directed into the gap between the tip end and the winding tubes disposed within the hollow space, a wrapping guide element having a smooth end disposed in the space between the short arcuate plate and the table for holding the layers of tapes in contact with the tubes, and the discharge end of the table having a concave surface which forms a substantial continuation of the cylindrical assembly for cooperating with the other elements in the cylindrical assembly in tightly wrapping the end of the tapes around the winding tubes for securing them thereto.
 5. An automatic tape winding machine according to claim 4 wherein the wrapping guide element comprises roller means mounted upon a movable arm.
 6. An automatic tape winding machine according to claim 5 wherein the roller means are constructed and arranged to press resiliently into contact with the surface of the tapes.
 7. An automatic tape winding machine according to claim 4 wherein a guide roller means is mounted in contact with tapes on the table for feeding the tapes into the gap between the tip end of the hemicylindrical concave-surfaced plate and winding tubes within the assembly.
 8. An automatic tape winding machine according to claim 7 wherein the outside edge of the tip end is tapered to allow the guide roller means to closely nest adjacent the end of the table.
 9. An automatic tape winding machine according to claim 4 wherein a cutoff device is mounted on the table for movement against the tapes on it whereby lengths of tape are severed after being fully wound upon the tubes.
 10. An automatic tape winding maching according to claim 4 wherein the tip portion of the hemicylindrical concave-surfaced plate is spaced a greater distance from the tube than the remaining portion for facilitating the entrance of the ends of the tapes into the gap between the tip and the tubes.
 11. An automatiC tape winding machine according to claim 10 wherein a disengageable tape drive is mounted at the end of the table remote from the cylindrical assembly for feeding tapes across the table onto the assembly.
 12. An automatic tape winding machine according to claim 4 wherein a pneumatic operating linkage having a large operating angle is connected to the arm whereby the hemicylindrical concave-surfaced plate is fully opened away from and moved toward the cylindrical assembly for inserting and removing the winding tubes.
 13. An automatic tape winding machine according to claim 4 wherein one of said pivotal arms is substantially longer than the other, the longer arm being constructed and arranged to move its winding shaft in a short arc within the assembly from its remote position, and the other shorter pivotal arm being constructed and arranged to move its winding shaft through a larger arc within the assembly from its remote position.
 14. An automatic tape winding machine according to claim 13 wherein the machine includes a base plate upon which the pivoted elements are mounted, the pivotal arms being spaced from the base plate, and the winding shaft extending from the pivotal arms toward the base plate and having extremeties which are spaced from the base plate to permit their movement within and away from the assembly.
 15. An automatic tape winding machine comprising a pair of the combination set forth in claim 14 and wherein the longer and shorter pivotal arms are constructed and arranged to operate in synchronism with each other.
 16. An automatic tape winding machine according to claim 1 wherein a double pair of the winding shafts with pivotal arms of different length are provided, and the pivotal arms of the same length in the double pair are constructed and arranged to operate together. 